County Animal Shelter Expansion Update

First quarter of FY’12, our goal to provide a safe, humane and healthy environment for the Aiken County Shelter animals has been greatly advanced. The first phase, to do a professional needs assessment, is complete and is under review by County Council.

Jeff Keast, an architect with Animal Arts who specialize in animal shelter design, was hired by FOTAS to do an initial site analysis. Jeff looked at the current County Shelter, the old SPCA shelter, which is now offered for sale due to their building a new shelter in a new location, and other possibilities.

For each site he performed a physical site analysis, looking at general building condition as well as specific shelter-related conditions. He then did a cost projection to bring each site up to a minimum standard.

 The analysis took into consideration factors such as: standards for drainage, ability to be cleaned, ventilation/air quality, and sound control. Jeff computed minimum size requirements for a county shelter based on the current intake numbers, length-of-stay, and the euthanasia rate. Of major concern was the enormous number of animals the County is required to take in for which they must provide housing. Providing adequate size and quality of housing is the core issue.  

 Currently, healthy adoptable animals brought in become sick. Feces and urine are washed repeatedly by all the cages in open trenches.  All of the animals breathe the same air over and over as airborne viruses are moved throughout the facility by large fans. There is no HVAC, not even windows.

From his assessment, Jeff presented his findings in executive session to County Council on September 20th. His report offers comparisons and summary recommendations as to which site appears to be the most effective and cost efficient for our new shelter expansion/renovation. County Council is now studying his findings and working to make the best recommendation for the shelter expansion project within a limited budget.

 We want to emphasize how critically important this site and needs analysis is as a first step. It is our unique opportunity and responsibility to be sure the new shelter is done right. Funding is severely limited, so it behooves us to work smartly and responsibly to build our new shelter. We are not advocating extravagance. We do, however, insist that a new shelter meet basic standards of responsible care for the stray and surrendered animals of Aiken County. Studies show that shelters built to properly serve the community promote responsible pet ownership, spay/neuter, less intake and minimal euthanasia.

We want a shelter where our citizens will want to visit, volunteer, and adopt animals, a Community Shelter in which we can all be involved and take pride.

We will continue to provide you, our FOTAS community, with updates on the progress of the Shelter

Expansion. We need your continued input and support.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Friends of the Animal Shelter

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road, Aiken SC to help the abandoned animals from Aiken and Edgefield Counties in SC. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.